When I first starting taking my family to Europe, I got a lot of side eye from other parents. You could almost see the thought bubble that says, “you must be rich.” There were also a lot of off-hand comments about how they couldn’t afford to go to Europe (from families that frequently dropped a few thousand dollars on trips to Disney.) TL;DR, we aren’t rich, but we do prioritize spending money on travel. The fact is, there are some misconceptions around how much a trip to Europe costs.
There were actually times when we decided to go to Europe because the flight was cheaper than getting to Florida! Of course, when, where, and how you travel can greatly impact your European trip budget. But after visiting 14 European countries, many multiple times, I’ve learned a lot about how much a trip to Europe costs.
Now I won’t lie, it can get REALLY expensive, especially if you are traveling with a family and need two or more rooms (this is why we have used Airbnb), prefer private tours (worth it with kids!), or if you can only travel during the expensive summer months.
But, I have some tips to help you lower those costs and choose more affordable destinations. I’ll also walk you through average costs for a European vacation, including airfare, accommodations, activities, food, and transportation.
First, if you are interested in a specific country, I have very detailed cost breakdowns for:
- Iceland trip cost
- Ireland trip cost
- Scotland trip cost
- London trip cost
- Amsterdam trip cost
- Paris trip cost
- Portugal trip cost
- Italy trip cost
- Greece trip cost
Ways to Save on Your European Trip Cost
f you are looking for ways to save some money on your trip to Europe cost, here are some ideas;
Visit Less Expensive Countries
If you want to go to Iceland or Scandinavia, you are going to need a healthy budget. Even places that used to be considered budget-friendly, such as Portugal, have gotten pricier in the last few years as tourism has increased (although it is still cheaper than other Western European countries.).
However, if you go the bit off-the-beaten path, you can find great deals, it may just be a bit trickier to find direct flights. Look at destinations like Scotland, Wales, and Eastern European countries like Hungary or Slovenia.
Avoid Big Cities
Everyone wants to visit Paris, London, and Rome, but the less time you spend in these large European capitals, the better it is for your budget. Sevilla is going to be cheaper than Barcelona, and so on.
You can also stay in less-popular countryside destinations, like Piedmont or Umbria instead of Tuscany in Italy or Languedoc instead of Provence in France. We have stayed in gorgeous chateaus in the Languedoc region of France for half the cost of our hotel in Paris.
Stay in Rentals
If you are visiting Europe with kids, one way to save money is to find an apartment or villa rental through Airbnb, vrbo, or other vacation rental alternatives. Since it is hard to find family rooms in Europe that sleep four or more, often the cost of a two or three-bedroom apartment is cheaper than renting two hotel rooms or an expensive hotel suite.
Even couples will benefit from staying in agriturismos, which are farms that offer accommodations on-site in Italy, or something similar.
Travel Outside of Peak Season
I know it is hard to travel during shoulder season or low season if you have kids, but remember that Europe has different holidays and school schedules. You can find great deals around our U.S. Thanksgiving. And, if your kids get out of school early, you can still find better deals and availability in June than July or August, when European schools have summer break.
If you have more flexibility, traveling in late October through May (outside of holiday weeks) will save you some money. Just do some research about half-term or school break weeks.
Use Points and Miles or Low-Cost Carriers
There are a lot of ways to hack your way to free flights to Europe using sign up bonuses and flexible points transfers if you can easily meet the minimum spend amounts with your current spending. However, even if that isn’t an option, you can often find great deals on flights to Europe.
We have flown to London and Vienna for under $500 each. I highly recommend signing up for a flight deal subscription service such as Going. With the premium level you can set up your preferred airports and dream destinations and receive alerts on airfare sales and even points deals.
There are also a number of low cost carriers that offer flights from the United States including Norse Atlantic Airways, Condor, and French Bee. You can also use Play Airlines, which connects through Iceland.
Fly to a Hub and Then Use a Low Cost Carrier
If you find a great flight deal to a major European city, you can then use a low-cost carrier such as Ryan Air, EasyJet, Vueling, or others to connect to your final destination. These flights are typically under $100 per person, but make sure you are aware of the luggage restrictions on weight and size, which are different from U.S. carriers.
Trains are also another option, but don’t assume they will be cheap, especially if you book first class with assigned seats and luggage storage. Be sure to research your options before you book.
How Much Does a Trip to Europe Cost
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Now let’s look at some average costs for a trip to Europe. I’ve based these on two people traveling to Europe from the United States for a one week (7 night) trip.
Airfare to Europe Cost
Airfare from the United States to Europe can range from $500 per person (if you find a great deal) to over $2,000 (if you book late and travel during high season on a standard carrier.) As I mentioned above, you can save money by looking for flight deals, traveling off-season, or using low-cost carriers or connecting flights.
However, you can assume an average cost of $1,000 per person.
Total Airfare Cost = $2,000 ($1,000 x 2 people)
European Accommodations Cost
Accommodation costs can vary greatly depending on if you are staying in a big city or elsewhere, or if you are in a luxury hotel or a rustic rental. You will usually want to split your trip between a city and somewhere in the countryside. If you only have a week, I’d suggest three nights in the city and four nights elsewhere. Think Rome or Florence + Tuscany, Milan + Piedmont, Paris + Burgundy, Edinburgh + Highlands, London + Wales, etc.
In the city, expect to spend $250-500 per night and $150-350 per night in another location. Remember, you can refer to each of my detailed cost breakdowns for specific hotel and itinerary recommendations for those various destinations.
Total Accommodations Cost = $2,050 ($350 x 3 nights + $250 x 4 nights)
European Transportation Cost
Even if you plan to stay in one city for your entire trip to Europe, you will still need to spend some money on transportation. For example, when we went to Amsterdam for three days, we walked all over the city but we still took a transfer to and from the airport. So whether it is Uber, taxis, public transportation, or private transfers, you will need to budget for transportation expenses.
More likely, you will need to also either rent a car or take a train between destinations. If you are renting a car, be sure to book it early as the prices go up the closer you get to your arrival. Automatic transmission cars are also more expensive than manual transmission. Try to pack in carry on suitcases if possible so that you can rent a small to mid-size car. Driving in some countries (especially Ireland, the UK, and parts of Italy) can be challenging on small roads so you will appreciate it for more than the price point! Also keep in mind that gas is more expensive in Europe than the United States.
Total transportation cost = $800 (estimated)
European Activities Cost
Your activity costs vary greatly depending on where you go in Europe. For example, if you are visiting Scotland or Wales and you just want to spend a lot of time in the outdoors and maybe visit a few castles, your expenses will be minimal. But if you are going to Paris or Rome and you want to explore historic sites and museums and get the most of the experience, you will want to take a tour.
When in Greece, you can spend your days by the pool or the beach, but you will probably want to at least take a sunset sail and maybe a food or wine tour. I know it can get expensive, but don’t skimp on your activities. This is what you will remember most about your trip. More than your hotel. More than your airplane ride. It is also what matters the most when visiting a foreign country. After all, you want to experience the local culture. You want to learn more about the destination’s history. And you will want to see what makes a place unique.
Total Activities Cost = $1000
European Food Costs
It used to be that food in Europe was more expensive than in the United States but in the last couple of years, I have not found that to be the case. You can still spend a bundle on food if you elect for hotel breakfasts or fancy chef’s tasting menus. But in general, you can find affordable meals especially in destinations like Scotland, Wales, Portugal, and Italy.
You can also save money by preparing some of your own meals if you rent an apartment or stay in an aparthotel with a kitchenette. Remember, you don’t need to tip as much in Europe (or sometimes at all) and the alcohol is usually a lot cheaper because it isn’t marked up as much. These factors can make a big difference in your bottom line.
As a rule of thumb, plan to spend:
- $10 per person for breakfast (stop at a bakery for pastry and coffee or juice)
- $15-20 per person for lunch (think pizza, sandwiches, or street food)
- $25-50 per person for dinner (maybe plan for one splurge dinner too of up to $100 pp)
Total Food Cost = $1150
You may also want to budget some money for souvenirs and travel insurance.
Total Trip to Europe Cost
A seven-night trip to Europe for two people will cost an average of $7,900, or $564 per person, per day.
| Category | Expense |
| Airfare | $2,000 |
| Accommodations | $2,050 |
| Transportation | $ 800 |
| Tours & activities | $1,000 |
| Food | $1,150 |
| Souvenirs & miscellaneous | $ 400 |
| Travel insurance | $ 500 |
| The total cost of a trip to Europe for 2 people for 7 nights | $7,900 |
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Tamara Gruber is the Founder and Publisher of We3Travel. A former marketing executive and travel advisor, Tamara is an award-winning travel writer and recognized expert in family travel. Tamara is a member of SATW and the Adventure Travel Trade Association, and serves on the Board of the Family Travel Association. She is also the publisher of YourTimetoFly.com and the co-host of the Vacation Mavens travel podcast.
